This course is taught and facilitated by Kathleen Lockyer, OT/L, occupational therapist, author of Wild Inside, and creator of the NatureLed™ Approach.

Kathleen has worked at the intersection of occupational therapy and nature connection for nearly three decades, supporting children, families, and professionals across educational, clinical, and community settings. Her work is grounded in occupational therapy, sensory integration, developmental neuroscience, ecological models of human development and is highly trauma informed.

The NatureLed™ Approach has been shaped through interdisciplinary collaboration and learning alongside occupational therapists, educators, international wildlife trackers and naturalists, and leaders in the nature-connection field, including Jon Young and Richard Louv, among others. These experiences inform the course’s emphasis on ecological awareness, perceptual development, and relational learning as they pertain to participation in the occupations of living.

Kathleen teaches all core instructional content and facilitates live sessions, mentoring calls, and the final capstone experience. Learning is supported through guided implementation, reflection, and outcome-informed discussion to help practitioners integrate nature-connective approaches into sustainable, occupation-centered practice.

Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, OT students and other Allied Health professionals seeking evidence-informed, nature-integrated frameworks for holistic practice, burnout recovery, clinical transformation, and meaningful occupation-based interventions. 
If you care about restoring health, connection, and thriving, you belong.

Many nature-based trainings offer a map to take therapy outside, or, a set of activities that work well in certain places, with certain groups, under certain conditions.

The NatureLed™ Approach begins somewhere else.

It teaches you how to listen.

Rather than handing you a recipe, this course teaches you how to cook with what is already alive around you—the slope of the land, the way light moves through leaves, the textures underfoot, the pauses between birdsong. You learn to work with the wild ingredients of your own place, wherever you practice, and to let those ingredients shape your clinical reasoning.

While other programs focus on getting children outside to play—a beautiful and necessary beginning—NatureLed™ invites you deeper. You come to understand how outdoor experiences work directly with the nervous system, how they shape perception, regulation, movement, meaning, and participation over time. Nature is no longer a backdrop. It becomes a collaborator.

You learn to enter into a reciprocal relationship with the forms, patterns, and rhythms of the living world—restoring the ancient and essential. The original neural design humans evolved within. The one our bodies still recognize, even when our lives have drifted far from it.

And this journey doesn't end when the coursework is complete.

The Next Generation OT continues to walk with you as you practice, question, reflect, and integrate. Through mentoring, shared reflection, and community, you are supported as this work takes root—not just in your sessions, but in your professional identity.

More than a course.
NatureLed™ is a remembering.
A reorientation.
A way back into a practice that can grow with you, sustain you, and stay alive in the places you serve.

You don't have to step outside the box alone. Take us with you!

In the world of Occupational Therapy, "Certification" is often a proprietary title created by private organizations. It is important to note that governing bodies like the AOTA do not "approve" or "recognize" private certifications; instead, they provide the gold standard by approving the Provider and the individual courses themselves.

At RxOutside, LLC and the NatureLed™ Institute, we have chosen a path to meet professional integrity excellence:

Prioritizing our status as an AOTA Approved Provider. This ensures that the time you spend with us meets the national standards for continuing education.

Our badges signify that you have completed rigorous coursework that counts toward your professional standing.

The Pathfinder's Identity: We've evolved to believe a "Certification" can feel like a static end-point. Our Digital Badges represent a living, "rippled" journey. They allow you to claim the title of NatureLed™ Practitioner at varying levels of mastery—from personal embodiment (Foundations) to clinical leadership (Mastery)—all backed by the highest educational standards in our field.

 Please see individual course pages for learning outcomes. 

This pathway was created for you.

The NatureLed™ Approach doesn't require you to abandon your setting or become a stand alone forest based program. It’s about re-rooting occupational therapy and holistic interventions in the sensory, relational, and ecological foundations that human nervous systems depend on—no matter where care is delivered.

You’ll learn ways of seeing, listening, and responding that translate directly into classrooms, clinics, nursing homes, playgrounds, courtyards, hallways, and even moments at the window or doorway. NatureLed™ practice becomes part of how you orient a body, pace an interaction, shape an environment, notice patterns, and invite regulation and meaning—often within the very constraints you already navigate.

Many practitioners find that this work reshapes how they understand behavior, engagement, and burnout, bringing new clarity and steadiness to settings that can feel rigid or depleted. The tools and frameworks are designed to integrate into existing systems, documentation requirements, and professional roles—not replace them.

Importantly, the courses explicitly support integration with IEPs, documentation, productivity expectations, and outcome reporting, helping you articulate this work in language that administrators and systems understand.

Wherever you practice, you will begin to see your environment, your clients, and yourself differently.

And that shift can bring more ease, and connection to your work/life balance. 

Course Formats & CEU Calculation

Our professional development activities are offered in multiple formats, including Distance Learning–Interactive (live online), In-Person, and Distance Learning–Independent (asynchronous). Contact hours are calculated based on the actual time participants are engaged in instructional content and learning activities, excluding breaks, meals, and non-instructional time. AOTA CEUs are awarded based on contact hours, with 10 contact hours equivalent to 1.0 CEU.

Successful completion requirements vary by course and may include full attendance, active participation in experiential activities, and/or completion of required assessments. All course formats, contact hours, CEUs, and completion requirements are clearly stated on individual course registration pages in accordance with AOTA Approved Provider Program guidelines.

Note: The assignment of AOTA CEUs is contingent upon successful completion of all course requirements and does not imply endorsement of specific content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Relevant AOTA Educational Categories

Category 1: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery
Evaluation, intervention, outcomes, therapeutic use of environment, sensory development, nature-based occupation
Category 2: Professional Issues
Burnout, resilience, supervision, advocacy, OT identity, ethical practice, sustainable workload
Category 3: Foundational Knowledge
Neuroscience, emotional and physical regulation,  sensory-motor science, ecology, environmental psychology, lifespan development, mental health

Introductory to Advanced
Please see individual course pages for this information.

RxOutside, LLC and The NatureLed™ Institute are committed to providing accessible and inclusive professional development programming. 

Accessibility supports may include, when feasible, captioning or transcripts for recorded content, accessible digital materials, and alternative participation options for live sessions. Course content is delivered using platforms selected for clarity, ease of navigation, and compatibility with assistive technologies.

Learners who require accommodations to support participation are encouraged to submit a written request at least 14 days prior (but not less than seven) to the course or live session start date, whenever possible. Requests are reviewed on an individual, case-by-case basis to determine reasonable accommodations while maintaining the integrity of course learning outcomes.

Accommodation requests may be submitted via email to:

📧 [email protected]

Our Commitment
We are committed to creating learning environments that are respectful, transparent, and accessible. Safety, dignity, and inclusion guide all program planning decisions. We welcome humans across the diversity spectrum. 

You may begin using the NatureLed™ Practitioner designation and displaying your digital badge as soon as you have successfully completed all course requirements for your specific level of study.

As an AOTA Approved Provider, we are required to verify that you have met all learning outcomes before professional credit is awarded. Therefore, your digital badge and Certificate of Completion will be issued once you have:

Attended all required contact hours (Synchronous or Asynchronous).

Completed the post-course learning assessment/evaluation.

Demonstrated mastery of the content for that level.

Tiered (rippled) Recognition:
Pathfinders begin by advertising their Foundations status after Level 2 to signal their personal commitment to the model. As you progress through Level 3 (Applied) and Level 4 (Mastery), you will be invited to update your professional signature and digital presence with the corresponding badge, reflecting your deepening clinical expertise and leadership within the NatureLed™ lineage.

Absolutely not.
There are nearly 8 billion people on the planet — and far too many are still disconnected from the natural world.
We need all hands, all hearts, all paths open.

We operate from an abundance mindset and a belief that your work is not just needed — it is essential.
Graduates become part of a living, growing network of mutual support and shared mission.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." — Shakespeare

Online Professional Development Activities

Refund eligibility for online professional development (PD) activities depends on the delivery format, timing of cancellation, and extent to which course materials have been accessed.

Self-Paced / On-Demand Online Courses (DL–Independent)

Learners may request a full refund within 7 calendar days of purchase, provided no more than 20% of course content has been accessed.

No refunds will be issued once more than 20% of course materials (including videos, downloads, or assessments) have been accessed.

Once access to the full course library is granted, materials are considered delivered.

Live Online or Cohort-Based Online Courses (Live or DL–Interactive)

Refunds for live online or cohort-based professional development activities are based on the number of calendar days prior to the course start date:

14 or more calendar days prior to the course start date
Full refund minus a $25 administrative fee

5–13 calendar days prior to the course start date
75% refund

Less than 5 calendar days prior to the course start date
50% refund

Transfers and Substitutions (Online Courses)

Learners may request a one-time transfer to a future offering of the same PD activity (if available) for a $25 administrative fee.

Transfer requests must be submitted before the original course start date.

Transfers are not guaranteed and are subject to availability.

Transfers may not be applied to a different course or activity.

Failure to Attend / No-Shows

No refunds or transfers will be issued for learners who do not attend an activity without prior written communication.

Failure to log in, arriving late, or incomplete participation does not constitute cancellation.

Provider-Initiated Cancellation

If the provider must cancel or reschedule an activity due to unforeseen circumstances (including instructor illness, safety concerns, weather, or insufficient enrollment):

Learners will be offered the choice of a full refund or a transfer to a future offering of the activity.

Refund requests must be submitted in writing prior to the course start date.

RESULTS BASED LEARNING GUARENTEE

Engage Fully. Learn Deeply. Or Your Tuition Back.

We stand behind the quality, relevance, and practical application of our professional development offerings.

If, within 30 days of the course completion date, you complete the course requirements and find that the content does not support your learning or professional goals, you may request a refund, subject to the conditions below.

Eligibility for the Guarantee

To qualify for a refund under this guarantee, the learner must:

1. Submit a written refund request within 30 days of the course completion date.
   Requests must be emailed to [email protected]
2. Demonstrate meaningful engagement with the course content, which include:
• Completion of required modules or lessons
• Participation in required assessments or reflection activities
• Evidence of attempting to apply the content in professional or educational settings, when applicable
3. Provide specific feedback describing:
• What aspects of the course did not meet expectations
• How the content was attempted in practice
• What would have improved the learning experience

This feedback helps us continually refine and improve our offerings for future learners.

Refund Terms

• Approved refunds will be issued minus 30%.
• Refunds are issued to the original method of payment.
• No refunds will be granted when requested more than 30 days after the course completion date, regardless of course progress or access.

Important Notes

• This guarantee applies to online courses and extended programs only and does not override separate refund policies for in-person or live events.
• Completion certificates or CE documentation will be revoked if a refund is granted.
• This guarantee is designed to support committed learners while protecting the integrity and sustainability of the program.
• This guarantee functions as a limited post-completion exception to standard refund and cancellation policies and applies only when all eligibility criteria are met.

In accordance with the AOTA Approved Provider Program (APP) requirements, the following disclosures are provided:

Instructor Financial Disclosure

Kathleen Lockyer, OT/L, is the creator and owner of the NatureLed™ Approach and the NatureLed™ Institute and receives income from the sale of this course, related program materials, and other proprietary educational offerings. Course materials may reference additional resources developed by the instructor, including books, courses, workbooks, or professional services. Participation in this course does not require the purchase of any additional products.

Kathleen Lockyer also receives honoraria for speaking engagements and professional education activities outside of this course.

Instructor Non-Financial Disclosure

The instructor collaborates with and has professional relationships with occupational therapists, educators, and leaders in the nature-connection and allied health fields. These relationships do not influence course content or learning outcomes.

Commercial Support

NatureLed™ Institute courses do not receive commercial support from external organizations.

Non-Endorsement Statement

The content of this course reflects the professional perspectives of the instructor and does not imply endorsement by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).